Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Beginning of Summer “To Do” List (for families with children)

Start the summer off by doing some planning and organizing.


  1. With your family, make a list of "Family Activities" you would like to do this summer, for example: ride bikes to park, have a picnic, visit grandma... Schedule these events now. By planning ahead, you will get to do more of the activities you'd like to do.

  2. Sort & purge all the papers your child/ren have brought home from school. Save a few samples of written work and a few pieces of art work – fewer than ten total. Write the child's name, grade, and year on each selection. Store in a bin, labeled with the child's name. See http://simplespacesorg.blogspot.com/2008/05/end-of-school-year.html for more ideas for memorabilia.

  3. Toss school supplies that can't be reused and store the rest in a container labeled "school supplies." Next school year you'll have those supplies ready to go.

  4. Make an Indoors "Unbored" List and an Outdoors "Unbored" List – for each, list at least 20 activities your child/ren enjoy doing. Have your children help brainstorm ideas. When your child says he/she is bored, suggest he/she check the list for some ideas. Really, this works!

  5. Sort through toys. Toss any that are broken and donate or sell any that your child/ren have outgrown or no longer play with.

  6. Sort through each child's closet. Toss, donate, or sell any clothing & shoes that they've outgrown or no longer wear.

Plan, declutter, then enjoy your summer!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

#1 and #4 are especially valuable tips - if you wait until the time you need the ideas, you'll waste half of it trying to come up something!

Pam Wedig-Kirsch said...

Thanks Janet. Making an "Unbored" List when children are energetic and engaged is an absolute must. If you wait until a child is bored, nothing will sound interesting.